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MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING END GATES 0P (JARS. No. 456,904. Patented July 28, 1891.

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J. PARKER.- MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING END GATES 0F CARS. No. 456,904. Patented July 28, 1891.

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.TAMES PARKER, OF PHILIPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE- EIGHTHS TO H. L. CARLISLE, F. H..TVHITE, AND TVM, S. RHOADS, ALL OF SAME PLACE.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING END-GATES OF CARS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,904, dated July 28,1891.

Application filed April 25, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philipsburg, in the county of Centre and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Mechanism for Opening and Closing Automatically the End- Gates of Mining-Cars; and I do'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a mechanism for opening and closing automatically the endgates of mining-cars in which a staple-shaped iron located in the car-tipple operates in conjunction with the mechanism for locking and unlocking the end-gate; and the object of my invention is to provide a means for opening and locking the end-gates of mining-cars automatically, or without the aid of any person, when the same is being dumped. Iattain this object by certain construction, combination, and arrangement of parts fully described in this specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end View of the car upon the tipple, with the end-gate in its normal position upon the car. Fig. 2 is a view of the car in a position to illustrate the mechanism located upon the under side thereof. Fig. 3 is a View illustrating said mechanism detached from the car. Fig. l is a plan View of the tipple. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line of the pivotal catches. Fig. 6 isan enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the car upon the tipple and in the position of being dumped.

Referring to the drawings, the letterA designates the end-gate, which is constructed in any form adapted to the end of the car in which the same may be placed. This gate is provided with the flat staple-shaped hinges D, which extend vertically across the gate. The curved ends of these hinges slightly project above the top of the gate, so as to provide an opening, through which the rod Bis placed and upon which the gate is hung. The rod 13 extends the width of the gate and has each end located in bearings b upon the sides of the car. Near the bottom of the end-gate A there are two pivotal flaps E, which are con- Serial No. 390,450. (No model.)

structed with the upper end bent loosely around the small bolt 6, which has bearings in the end-gate. These flaps extend to the bottom of said end-gate. Under each of said flaps E in the gate there are two slots a, through which the corresponding pivotal catches G may pass when the gate is falling back into position.

0 represents a pronged rod, Fig. 3, which is located upon the under side of the car in suitable bearings. The forward end 0' of this rod is bent so as to engage the staple-shaped iron F of the car-tipple. In the rear bifurcated ends 0 of said rod there are pivoted two catches G, which work in orifices gin the bottom of the carin conjunction with the pivotal flaps E of the end-gate A, whereby said endgate is locked or prevented from opening when the car is in its normal position.

I indicates a strong spiral spring which is located upon the rod 0. This spiral spring causes the rod 0 to assume its normal position after the same has been pulled forward by the weight of the car upon the tipple J, 0W- ing to the bent portion 0 of the rod engaging the staple-shaped iron F of thetipple. This spiral spring also performs other very important functions-namely, as the same is gradually compressed by the weight of the loaded car upon the tipple the car is eased gradually onto the tipple, which dumps the same. This relieves the spiral spring of the pressure occasioned by the weight of the loaded car. The spiral spring being so relieved naturally rebounds as the tipple rises and forces the car back upon the track. Said functions performed by this spiral spring in conjunction with the staple-shaped iron F of the tipple constitute a very important and valuable feature of my invention.

F is a staple-shaped iron, which is secured centrally on the tipple, so that when the car curved spring K, which regulates the movement of the tipple when the loaded car is upon it.

L represents the car-track.

My invention operates as follows: The loaded car when run upon the tipple J is lowered at one end into the position shown in Fig. 6, the gate is opened, and the car is thus unloaded. The car being unloaded, the tipple rises, carrying the same back into its normal position, when the gate accordingly falls back, the flaps E striking the pivotal catches G and passing over the same. The action of the spiral spring heretofore described then starts the car back upon the track and forces the rod G into normal position, thereby locking the gate.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mining-car, the combination of the end-gate hinged upon the'rod B, having the pivotal flaps E, the rod B, located in suitable bearings upon the rear top sides of the car, the rod 0, having the spiral spring I coiled around the same, said rod beinglocated upon the under side of the car directly under said gate in suitable bearings and having in the bifurcated end 0 the pivotal catches G, and the car-tipple provided centrally with a staple-shaped iron adapted to engage the bent end 0' of the rod (J, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a mining-car, the rod O, provided with the spiral spring I coiled around the same, said rod being located in suitable bearings upon the under side of the rear end of the car and having in the bifurcated ends 0 thereof the pivotal catches G,in combination with the car-tipple provided centrally with a staple-shaped iron adapted to engage the bent end 0 of the rod 0, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J AS. PARKER.

Witnesses:

SAM. M. GRAHAM, WM. A. DUNWIDIDE. 

